Getting to know Andrew Lester

3 May 2011 08:32Personalities

Spaghetti Media's Andrew Lester spends a few minutes chatting to Totally MAd about his need to make things, his admiration for Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his stance on social media, despite being a "fairly anti-social chap".

1. What was your first job/ where did you start?I have never had a job, in a way I am a bit like a kid on that front. After graduating I worked as a full-time musician for a good seven years, and they were good years. Since then I have been doing my own thing. Spaghetti Media is my second business, before that I had a small production company called Prolific.

2. What made you want to build a career in your profession?Initially this was the path of least resistance, I may not be cut out for the corporate world of work. In seriousness I have a need to make things, to create. Spaghetti Media affords me the opportunity to do just this.

3. Describe a day in your life at present.I start work at 08:30 usually, at the moment this usually goes till about 18:30. We do peer review and status every morning at 09:00 and every afternoon at 17:00. Team collaboration is essential for our work and it is important that we have time to discuss the projects and give creative input. There is no place for a thin skin at these meetings, we work to create work we can all be proud of and the input of creative peers is paramount to achieving this. I try to spend 18:30 to 20:00 at home with my wife and son. Very often I go back to the office after 20:00 and catch up on admin,otherwise I study, my day rarely ends before 00:00.

4. How do you unwind behind the scenes? List your favourite song; movie; and book.Right now we are really busy and I am studying towards an MBA, so I am not really sure how to relax. I used to play golf, and a lot of it, but that's on hold for now, well at least for the next two years. I do love eating at a good restaurant and try to do this once a week with my family.

5. Who would you most like to meet - dead or alive - and why?I think Archbishop Tutu , I admire his honesty, his integrity and his willingness to be unpopular.

6. What has been one of the most important lessons you have learnt?I am still learning every day. If I had to narrow this down I would say it is focus, I struggle to maintain interest once I feel I have a handle on things.

7. What is your secret indulgence and your three ‘can’t live without’ items?I drink a lot of coffee, and other caffeinated drinks, I think caffeine is my one indulgence, but that just makes me normal in this game.

8. Who do you think is getting it right in the industry?There are a lot of shops in this town getting it right, there is a lot of great work out there. I am staggered at the level of local music video production at the moment. It is really exciting to see great creative production work in the non commercial space. I could not single out a single company, it is just a really exciting time to be doing what we do.

9. Which person in the industry do you think is making waves?Again there are just too many to say. Yes I am fence sitting here but in a way there is a changing of the guard at the moment. The industry is changing and fairly radically, there are a wealth of youngsters doing fantastic work, the whole industry is shifting and the base is changing.

10. Who is your alter ego?I am an introvert, but give me a microphone...

11. What is your favourite perfume?No idea.

12. Which car would best personify you, and why?I drive a 3 series touring , I have always loved the fact that it is unique without being flash or crass, I hope that personifies me.

13. What is your favourite reality TV series?I really have to say I haven't seen much TV over the last 18 months, but I love House, I don't even know if this is on any more. I try to watch the History channel if I can, and I do love Top Gear.

14. Who is someone you truly look up to, and which qualities do you most admire about them?I I have already stated my admiration for Bishop Tutu, I like uncompromising people, obviously Steve jobs is up there, but as with all celebrity we only get to engage with a representation of them, this makes admiration a little easier.

15. What’s your stance on social media?I am a fairly anti-social chap , so whilst I am a bit of geek I have been pretty poor at getting into social media. I initially resisted Facebook, but I like Twitter. I am not sure I like the location services trend, I know it will continue to develop and will be pervasive in the near future, I am just a private individual.

Follow Andrew on twitter: @ajlester or go to www.spaghetti.co.za.More about Spaghetti MediaSpaghetti Media is a synergistic, creative production studio. “We do motion media; if it moves we make it. We streamline our creative process through the coordination of multiple disciplines. We create brand ?lms, AVs, broadcast media, motion content for online distribution, and television and radio commercials. We are motion designers, ?lm makers, composers, directors, sound designers, 3D artists, illustrators and content creators.”